Mangaluru: More than 120 motorsport enthusiasts from Karnataka, Kerala and Goa participated in the Bharat Petroleum Autocross 2026, organised by the Mangalore Motor Sports Association at Goldfinch City in Kulur on Sunday. Organised by the Mangalore Motor Sports Association (MMSA), the event combined competitive racing with a glimpse into the next generation of motorsport talent. The competition primarily featured four-wheelers across 13 classes based on vehicle specifications and engine capacity. Categories included INAC 1 open classes up to 1,650cc, 3,000cc and unrestricted, alongside INAC 2 modified classes ranging from 1,100cc to above 2,500cc. Foreign Open, Ladies Open, Amateur Open and INAC 3 Street Stock, were among other categories.Aroor Arjun Rao, the 2023 Indian National Rally champion from Mangaluru, attended the event and highlighted autocross as an entry point for aspiring rally drivers. “If you want to get into rallying, autocross is the base where you can start practising and driving to a certain speed limit,” Rao said.While the four-wheeler races formed the main attraction, the participation of young riders brought a generational dimension to the event. Special provisions allowed two-wheelers to compete in a dedicated children’s category.Arsh,9, rode a specialised Hero Vida electric mini bike under the guidance of his father, Ashwin Naik, an international rallyist with 31 years of motorsport experience, and the current chairman for Supercross, Motocross and Dirt in India.Recalling his son’s early interest in riding, Naik said, “We saw him cycling at the age of two-and-a-half or three, so we decided to get him into bikes.”Four-year-old Chryzler from Padil represented another motorsport family. An LKG student at SCS Pre School, Bikarnakatte, he is the great-nephew of rally champion Rohan Rego. His father, Cedan, and grandfather, Conrad Misquith, accompanied him at the event.A veteran of India’s racing scene in the 1970s, Conrad had ridden alongside motorsport figures Somender Singh and Sadhguru. He believes sustained practice will help his grandson develop the necessary skills.“Legally, he can go on the track when he is 10 years old, so six years of good practice will do him good,” Conrad said.The event thus brought together experienced competitors and aspiring young racers, underlining autocross’s role in nurturing future motorsport talent.
